Should I Be Concerned - High Nitrates with Cycle

[Idoc]

I started my tank cycle 2 - 2.5 weeks ago...75g DT with another 25-30g in sump. Dry sand and dry Pukani rock that I cured for 6 weeks several months ago and then let dry to work on different aquascape ideas. Wishing now I let it cure longer!

Parameters seem to be going fine for conversion from ammonia>nitrite>nitrate. But, my nitrates have really skyrocketed, and phosphates elevating (assuming from the Pukani still leaching). I initially dosed ammonia to 2ppm about 1.5 weeks ago. I didn't dose any bottled bacterial agents. I didn't test for the first week... and didn't dose the ammonia right away, either... was seeing if the Pukani had any more organics that might decay and give an ammonia source... tested zero then, so dosed the ammonia. No skimmer running during the cycle, no tank lights beside normal room lights. Tank had fluctuated between 75-80 degrees during cycle... holding at 80 now.

Test Kits:
Ammonia - Red Sea
Nitrite - Salifert
Nitrate - Salifert
Phosphate - Hanna Checker

21 Aug:
Amm: 2
Nitrite: 0.05
Nitrate: didn't measure

23 Aug:
Amm: 2
Nitrite: 0.25
Nitrate: 25

25 Aug:
Amm: 1.75
Nitrite: 1
Nitrate: 50
Phosphate: 0.13

27 Aug:
Amm: 0.3
Nitrite: 3
Nitrate: 100 (max test)
Phosphate: 0.14

29 Aug:
Amm: 0
Nitrite: 4
Nitrate: 100 (max test)
Phosphate: 0.12

No signs of any algae outbreaks yet in the tank... but can't help but think something crazy is coming with those nitrate and phosphate numbers.

1. Is it ok to let it continue with the high nitrates?
2. If so, ideas to lower? I've read not to do water changes while its still cycling. Other options?
3. I have some Phosguard I could use to bring down the phosphates, should I do it at this point?
4. Should I dose additional ammonia since its gone to zero...or let the nitrites get to zero first as well before additional ammonia dosing?

 

[CJBuckeyes]

Is there anything living in the tank? Or just cycling with rock? If the latter, I'd suggest just leaving it as is for a while and see if it comes back down.

Go Bucks!

 

[PatW]

I would not toss anything alive in the tank until you get the nitrates down to your target level.

 

[Idoc]

Is there anything living in the tank? Or just cycling with rock? If the latter, I'd suggest just leaving it as is for a while and see if it comes back down.

Go Bucks!

No, nothing alive in the tank... just cycling at this time. I don't plan on adding anything for quite awhile. I'll just ride it out until the cycle completes and then do a big water change to get the nitrates under control.

Go Bucks!

 

[Idoc]

I would not toss anything alive in the tank until you get the nitrates down to your target level.

Definitely wouldn't put anything alive in there! I'll just do a big water change after the cycle to bring down the nitrates.

 

[Ubergroover]

I have a similar setup. It took about 5-6 weeks to settle down, then another 5 moths to really stabilize. Let it do its thing...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The nitrate may be lower than the test result. With the Salifert nitrate kit, 4 ppm nitrite reads as a lot of nitrate (at least last time the owner of Salifert discussed this issue with us).

 

[Idoc]

The nitrate may be lower than the test result. With the Salifert nitrate kit, 4 ppm nitrite reads as a lot of nitrate (at least last time the owner of Salifert discussed this issue with us).

Did you mean Nitrate or Nitrite in your response...mentioned both in the same sentence, lol? I know my auto-correct keeps changing nitrate and nitrite back and forth in my messages! I was expecting the Nitrite rising during the cycle, but the high Nitrate reading at such a fast pace had me concerned that I was setting myself up for problems even before the cycle was complete. I understand the pukani rock can leach nitrates and phosphates for many months... just wanted to try to stay ahead of the game if there was something I could do now to prevent huge algae problems later!